America armed, but guns not necessarily loaded

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

NEW ORLEANS – Bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still can't keep up with the nation's demand for ammunition.

Shooting ranges, gun dealers and bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such shortages. Bullets, especially for handguns, have been scarce for months because gun enthusiasts are stocking up on ammo, in part because they fear President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation — even though nothing specific has been proposed and the president last month signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.

Gun sales spiked when it became clear Obama would be elected a year ago and purchases continued to rise in his first few months of office. The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System reported that 6.1 million background checks for gun sales were issued from January to May, an increase of 25.6 percent from the same period the year before.

"That is going to cause an upswing in ammunition sales," said Larry Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association representing about 5,000 members. "Without bullets a gun is just a paper weight."

The shortage for sportsmen is different than the scarcity of ammo for some police forces earlier this year, a dearth fueled by an increase in ammo use by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We are working overtime and still can't keep up with the demand," said Al Russo, spokesman for North Carolina-based Remington Arms Company, which makes bullets for rifles, handguns and shotguns. "We've had to add a fourth shift and go 24-7. It's a phenomenon that I have not seen before in my 30 years in the business."

Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammunition a year, according to the National Rifle Association. In the past year, that figure has jumped to about 9 billion rounds, said NRA spokeswoman Vickie Cieplak.

Jason Gregory, who manages Gretna Gun Works just outside of New Orleans, has been building his personal supply of ammunition for months. His goal is to have at least 1,000 rounds for each of his 25 weapons.

"I call it the Obama effect," said Gregory, 37, of Terrytown, La. "It always happens when the Democrats get in office. It happened with Clinton and Obama is even stronger for gun control. Ammunition will be the first step, so I'm stocking up while I can."

So far, the new administration nor Congress has not been markedly antigun. Obama has said he respects Second Amendment rights, but favors "common sense" on gun laws. Still, worries about what could happen persist.

Demand has been so heavy at some Walmarts, a limit was imposed on the amount of ammo customers can buy. The cutoff varies according to caliber and store location, but sometimes as little as one box — or 50 bullets — is allowed.

At Barnwood Arms in Ripon, Calif., sales manager Dallas Jett said some of the shortages have leveled off, but 45-caliber rounds are still hard to find.

"We've been in business for 32 years and I've been here for 10 and we've never seen anything like it," Jett said. "Coming out of Christmas everything started to dry up and it was that way all through the spring and summer.

Nationwide, distributors are scrambling to fill orders from retailers.

"We used to be able to order 50 or 60 cases and get them in three or four days easy, it was never an issue," said Vic Grechniw of Florida Ammo Traders, a distributor in Tampa, Fla. "Now you are really lucky if you can get one case a month. It just isn't there because the demand is way up."

A case contains 500 or 1,000 bullets.

At Jefferson Gun Outlet and Range in Metairie just west of New Orleans, owner Mike Mayer is worried individuals are going to start buying by the case.

"If someone wants to shoot on the weekend you have to worry about having the ammunition for them. And I know some people aren't buying to use it at the range, they're taking it home and hoarding it."

With demand, prices have also risen.

"Used to be gold, but now lead is the most expensive metal," said Donald Richards, 37, who was stocking up at the Jefferson store. "And worth every penny."

link

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

NEW ORLEANS – Bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still can't keep up with the nation's demand for ammunition.

Shooting ranges, gun dealers and bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such shortages. Bullets, especially for handguns, have been scarce for months because gun enthusiasts are stocking up on ammo, in part because they fear President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation — even though nothing specific has been proposed and the president last month signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.

Gun sales spiked when it became clear Obama would be elected a year ago and purchases continued to rise in his first few months of office. The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System reported that 6.1 million background checks for gun sales were issued from January to May, an increase of 25.6 percent from the same period the year before.

"That is going to cause an upswing in ammunition sales," said Larry Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association representing about 5,000 members. "Without bullets a gun is just a paper weight."

The shortage for sportsmen is different than the scarcity of ammo for some police forces earlier this year, a dearth fueled by an increase in ammo use by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We are working overtime and still can't keep up with the demand," said Al Russo, spokesman for North Carolina-based Remington Arms Company, which makes bullets for rifles, handguns and shotguns. "We've had to add a fourth shift and go 24-7. It's a phenomenon that I have not seen before in my 30 years in the business."

Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammunition a year, according to the National Rifle Association. In the past year, that figure has jumped to about 9 billion rounds, said NRA spokeswoman Vickie Cieplak.

Jason Gregory, who manages Gretna Gun Works just outside of New Orleans, has been building his personal supply of ammunition for months. His goal is to have at least 1,000 rounds for each of his 25 weapons.

"I call it the Obama effect," said Gregory, 37, of Terrytown, La. "It always happens when the Democrats get in office. It happened with Clinton and Obama is even stronger for gun control. Ammunition will be the first step, so I'm stocking up while I can."

So far, the new administration nor Congress has not been markedly antigun. Obama has said he respects Second Amendment rights, but favors "common sense" on gun laws. Still, worries about what could happen persist.

Demand has been so heavy at some Walmarts, a limit was imposed on the amount of ammo customers can buy. The cutoff varies according to caliber and store location, but sometimes as little as one box — or 50 bullets — is allowed.

At Barnwood Arms in Ripon, Calif., sales manager Dallas Jett said some of the shortages have leveled off, but 45-caliber rounds are still hard to find.

"We've been in business for 32 years and I've been here for 10 and we've never seen anything like it," Jett said. "Coming out of Christmas everything started to dry up and it was that way all through the spring and summer.

Nationwide, distributors are scrambling to fill orders from retailers.

"We used to be able to order 50 or 60 cases and get them in three or four days easy, it was never an issue," said Vic Grechniw of Florida Ammo Traders, a distributor in Tampa, Fla. "Now you are really lucky if you can get one case a month. It just isn't there because the demand is way up."

A case contains 500 or 1,000 bullets.

At Jefferson Gun Outlet and Range in Metairie just west of New Orleans, owner Mike Mayer is worried individuals are going to start buying by the case.

"If someone wants to shoot on the weekend you have to worry about having the ammunition for them. And I know some people aren't buying to use it at the range, they're taking it home and hoarding it."

With demand, prices have also risen.

"Used to be gold, but now lead is the most expensive metal," said Donald Richards, 37, who was stocking up at the Jefferson store. "And worth every penny."

link

Good thing I make my own. No dealys or backlogs at MY ammo factory.

Charles, if you are making .25-06 by necking down .30-06 and using themin a factory chambered rifle, be sure to either ream or outside neck turn the case after forming. That extra brass has to go somewhere and it ends up in the neck. The old wildcat chambers were cutr for this, the factory chambers are not. I forgot to mention that to you before. Sorry.

Oh, hay and CONGRATULAIONS to President barack Obam (and many thanks) from the firearms industry, things have been going "great guns!", and t has been the biggest and cheapest "stimulus" he has implemented. I expect the industry to give him the "salesman of the century" award. NRA membership is through the roof! The problem with pro-gun Presidents and congresses is that they put the industry and lobby to sleep.

We need this kind of thing to keep the immune system at it's peak.

Oh, and for those that wondered if we "were prepared" I think 9 billion rounds of ammo is pretty weel prepared, but don't worry, the ammo manufacturers (and there are alot of them) are working 4 shifts, 24/7/365 to make up any shortfall.

Edited September 24, 2009 by Gary and Alla

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

i don't have a 25-06 anymore, figured no need for it as i have 2 30-06 and a 30-30. plus it's another caliber of ammo to have to stock up on

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

i don't have a 25-06 anymore, figured no need for it as i have 2 30-06 and a 30-30. plus it's another caliber of ammo to have to stock up on

In emergency situations there is definite advantage to standardization. My dad always said "If you can't do the job with a .30-06...RUN!"

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I like my 12 gauge.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

i don't have a 25-06 anymore, figured no need for it as i have 2 30-06 and a 30-30. plus it's another caliber of ammo to have to stock up on

In emergency situations there is definite advantage to standardization. My dad always said "If you can't do the job with a .30-06...RUN!"

quite true, it's a very capable round.

[almaty 19]

i use the 30-30 john wayne winchester lever action to kill citizens ..of crime

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

i use the 30-30 john wayne winchester lever action to kill citizens ..of crime

model 94?

[almaty 19]

i use the 30-30 john wayne winchester lever action to kill citizens ..of crime

model 94?

is there another one ..worth owning? a great rifle....and fun to shoot and act like chuch connors or rooster cogburn

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

John Wayne - FTW

Well... the furniture could act better, but still...

I prefer Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars - "when a man with a rifle meets a man with a pistol, the man with the pistol is a dead man. Lets see if that's true"

Edited September 24, 2009 by Gene Hunt

[justashooter 430]

i use the 30-30 john wayne winchester lever action to kill citizens ..of crime

model 94?

winchester did make a john wayne comemmorative in the model 94 sometime back in the 70's. large loop lever, IIRC.

[almaty 19]

i also, perfer clint...but as a lad...watched john wayne films with my dad....

my dad hated john wayne allot..liked his films but hated him..stated he lied and did not have to serve during WWII and plays a war hero...he liked hios westerns but puked at the longest day,..sands of iwo jima...green berets..as he saw wayne as a coward...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

i also, perfer clint...but as a lad...watched john wayne films with my dad....

my dad hated john wayne allot..liked his films but hated him..stated he lied and did not have to serve during WWII and plays a war hero...he liked hios westerns but puked at the longest day,..sands of iwo jima...green berets..as he saw wayne as a coward...

I don't like the depiction of war in those old movies - sanitised and it makes the whole thing out to be glorious.

Wayne was a $hit actor - I only liked him in El Dorado and Rio Bravo. After Eastwood started getting popular Wayne (who was by then at the end of his career) started to make imitations of Eastwood's movies. There's only one Dirty Harry...

Personally I think Lee Van Cleef was cooler than Eastwood.

[natty bumppo 297]

i use the 30-30 john wayne winchester lever action to kill citizens ..of crime

model 94?

wayne also used a 92 some of his movies (the 92 has a shorter action used pistol cartridges)

Edited September 24, 2009 by Natty Bumppo

[BishopMnA 0]

I was at the river a few weeks ago and a 6' black/rat snake crawled out of the water and was hissing at my wife. So I stepped on its head and then grabbed its body and then the snake instinctively wrapped around my arm. I then pulled its body tight and cut off its head.

I learned this snake killing technique by watching Clint Eastwood kill a rattler in 'Two Mules for Sister Sarah'. Clint flicks are the best!

Wife was impressed